proud

This post is long overdue…and my fear is that since the event I am writing about happened over a week ago the words I type are going to lose the pure emotion and pride I had at the time.  I was (am) one proud mama!!  But I will give it a shot anyhow, because moments like these definitely need to be documented.

On July 10^th, Damon headed up north for a golf weekend…and Drew and I headed to the Mall of America for a free event in the Rotunda – Passport to Korea.  We were joined by two of Drew’s Aunties and three of his cousins.  The weekend long event was sponsored by the Network of Professional Adopted Koreans, the Korean Consulate General in Chicago, the Korean Cultural Center - LA, and the Korea Tourism Organization.  There were tons of presentations on Saturday – the Korean drum group that we saw at the HERE book release; a taekwondo group; a violinist; a cooking demo; the story of an adoptees search for his birth family; and a fashion show of Hanbok Nara - Queen Seon Duk Drama Costume Collection.  We namely came to see the drummers and the taekwondo…and they did not disappoint.  (we also came for the Korean restaurant food sampling – but either it wasn’t there or we totally missed it.  Darn.)

The event also had some great tourism information – considering we are planning on making a trip to Korea in the next few months I definitely picked up some maps, guidebooks, and even a short promotional video on Korea.  Some local Korean markets were there sampling products (Drew cannot get enough of the Spicy Shrimp Cheetos-like things; I much prefer the honey flavored kind).  And, we learned that a Korean immersion school will be opening in the Twin Cities the Fall of 2012 – they will be having a promotional fundraiser with Korean culture presentations on August 14^th that we will be sure to check out.  But, despite all the “stuff” going on at the event, it was what Drew did while we were there that left the biggest impression on me.

We sat in the second row on the right side of the raised stage…I was the furthest in, then an empty seat…Drew on one cousin’s lap…another cousin…and then one of Drew’s Aunties on the aisle.  In front of us in the first row was a lovely adoptive family of five – a biological daughter and two Korean adoptees (definitely older than Drew).  The beautiful MC in her gorgeous hanbok took some time between presentations to quiz the rather large audience.  She asked the audience who could name three Korean foods.  Without hesitation, Drew’s arm shot up like a rocket – straight, stiff, and confidently held in place – as he simultaneously stared down the MC like an eager and experienced school aged kid would do.  At the same time, the boy’s arm in front of me was raised.  By the time I realized the MC was walking towards our side of the stage also zoned in on Drew, it was too late to lean over and ask Drew what he was going to say.  I got nervous and secretly hoped the MC would ask the older boy in front of me.  But, no, she called on Drew and asked him to come up to the stage.  All I thought was “oh god…does she not realize she is calling on a three-year old that hates when he is the center of attention and could at any moment freeze, or worse pout and whine and cause the hugest commotion the MOA Rotunda has even seen if he gets embarrassed, can’t remember what he was going to say, or gets an answer wrong and is corrected?!?”  So, while Drew and one of his cousins worked their way up to the stage, I went into defense mode and leaned forward and told the boy in front of me to get ready, Drew will probably need some help.  Boy was I wrong!

The MC asked Drew his name…and he said it into the microphone.  Phew.  She then asked him what a Korean food is.  Drew says “Bibimbap!”  The MC smiled, seemed shocked and said “you know Bibimbap?!” and proceeded to walk around the stage and describe the dish to the audience (bibimbap is “mixed up rice” – rice, meat, veggies, an egg all mixed up in a bowl).  As the MC walked away describing the dish, I secretly hoped that she had forgotten that she had asked Drew to name THREE Korean foods and would just move on with the program.  But, no.  She came back, bent down and asked Drew for another food.  I had absolutely no idea what he was going to say and moved over a chair closer to the aisle in case the meltdown occurred.  But, out of Drew’s mouth came “Rice cakes!”  We have never had rice cakes….and I cannot even remember reading to him about rice cakes.  But…he is of course right and the MC went on to tell the audience the Korean names for different rice cakes (which I totally tuned out because I was just in shock of Drew’s bravery and smarts).  By this point, I have slowly gained enough faith and confidence in Drew to realize that I have a camera in my hand and have not taken a single picture [if only I had thought to video the whole thing!!] – Damon is missing it all!!)  As Drew tells the MC his third Korean food, “Kimchi!”, I tried to take a few pictures but failed miserably because I was just so darn proud of my Drew-man and did not want to miss a single real-live moment.  The MC thanked Drew, gave him a very cool Korean fan, and then Drew strut back to his seat with a smile on his face.

So…for the last nine days, I’ve kinda been strutting around with a smile on my face…’cause my oldest son has effortless begun embracing his little brother’s culture.

I.SO.COULD.NOT.BE.PROUDER.

Drew just finshed saying Kimchi...

Drew and his cousin walking back to their seats with the fan (it's in Drew's left hand - I'm such a good photographer!)

Proof of the fan...the taekwondo guys were coming on stage, no time to look at the camera! 

Until next time…I’ll be hoping this is the week the next EP batch goes in – it’s time, we're ready for some Korean culture up-close-and-personal!  (I am quite confident we WON’T be in this batch…but another batch into the Ministry means we’re just that much closer)